Red Bull Racing is poised to unveil its driver pairing for the 2026 Formula 1 season today, in a move that signals a significant reshuffle within its driver programme and leaves Yuki Tsunoda's future in the sport in serious doubt.
Hadjar Steps Into the Spotlight
The marquee change is the widely anticipated promotion of Isack Hadjar from sister team Racing Bulls to the senior Red Bull squad. The 21-year-old Frenchman, who has enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign, is expected to be named as Max Verstappen's new teammate for the 2026 season.
Hadjar currently sits 10th in the World Championship standings, an impressive feat for a debutant. His reward for this consistent performance is a seat often described as F1's 'poisoned chalice' due to the immense challenge of partnering the dominant Verstappen.
Tsunoda's F1 Future Hangs in the Balance
The major casualty of this reshuffle is Yuki Tsunoda. The 25-year-old Japanese driver was promoted to Red Bull early in the 2025 season, replacing Liam Lawson after just two races. However, he has reportedly failed to cement his position.
Critically, Lawson has outscored Tsunoda since the switch, despite driving the less competitive Racing Bulls car. With no seat available at the sister team, Tsunoda is now likely to drop out of Formula 1 entirely, ending his five-year stint in the championship.
Racing Bulls Also Set for Fresh Faces
The changes extend to the Racing Bulls team, which will feature an all-new line-up for 2026. Liam Lawson is expected to be retained and will be partnered by promising 18-year-old British driver Arvid Lindblad.
Lindblad has shown significant promise in the Formula 2 championship this year, earning him this accelerated path to a Formula 1 race seat. This completes a comprehensive refresh of Red Bull's driving talent across its two teams.
The official announcement, scheduled for Tuesday 2 December 2025, follows a turbulent few days for the Red Bull organisation. The team was forced to issue a statement on Monday expressing regret that comments had led to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli receiving death threats online.
This controversy stemmed from the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix, where a mistake from Antonelli allowed McLaren's Lando Norris to seize fourth place and crucial points in the title fight. The driver market moves now shift the focus firmly to the track ahead of this weekend's season finale in Abu Dhabi.
